Fresh garlic from our own cultivation tops every tuber from the supermarket. It works just as easily in the bed as it does on the balcony. We explain all the important steps up to the aromatic-spicy harvest.

The right location makes an important contribution to success

If the location meets the most important requirements, half of the way is already done:

  • sun-drenched location, warm and sheltered
  • humus-rich substrate, loose and well-drained
  • with a medium nutrient content

If you prefer to grow garlic yourself in a bucket or balcony box, you can choose commercially available vegetable soil. If you have Perlite ($39.51) or some sand on hand, mix it into the potting soil to improve drainage.

Planting time is in autumn - or not

Autumn is the ideal time to plant a wide range of ornamental and useful plants. The same goes for garlic. The soil is still warm at this time of the year, giving the seedlings an excellent opportunity to establish themselves before winter.

The professional cultivation of garlic also offers a second chance. If you put the seedlings into the ground in February, there will still be a harvest in the same year. In this case, of course, the onions have a smaller volume.

Planting garlic cloves or sowing seeds? You have the choice

If you are aiming for a quick harvest, fresh garlic cloves can be used as planting material. We recommend buying it from a specialist shop, because the quality is a decisive factor in the harvest yield. Chop a crisp, fresh garlic bulb into several cloves with a knife.

Seeds are rarely commercially available due to their limited shelf life. If you count a garlic grower in your network, this gives you access to fresh bulbs. After flowering, the firm, purple seeds are simply cut out.

Experience has shown that the sowing of garlic seeds leads to harvest in the following year at the earliest. Those who do not have a long thread of patience for growing garlic therefore opt for sticking garlic cloves.

Planting garlic is easy

Once the planting material is ready and the location has been selected, the garlic can be planted quickly:

  • loosen up the bed soil and weed conscientiously
  • Insert the garlic cloves 5-7 cm deep with the tip pointing towards the sky
  • Do not stick the onions deeper than 2-3 cm into the substrate
  • a planting distance of 15-20 cm is ideal
  • moisten with a fine water spray

If you plant in autumn, subsequent winter protection is recommended. Spread a garden fleece over the bed or cover it with straw, leaves or brushwood. Tubs and balcony boxes are wrapped in bubble wrap.

Minimal maintenance effort for maximum garlic enjoyment

Garlic requires little attention until it is harvested. As long as the soil does not dry out and weeds do not spread, growth is orderly. A shovel of compost from time to time ensures the nutrient supply. However, fertilizing is not absolutely necessary.

tips and tricks

Homegrown garlic is sometimes a sly old dog when it comes to its sharpness. So that eating it doesn't bring tears to your eyes, soak a garlic bulb in milk for 1 to 2 days. This simple procedure makes the spice plant much milder.

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Care tips